Noted Eagles underdog Vince Papale never lost faith in this year's team

Local barbers are cutting Eagles and Patriots logos and other special designs into customers’ hair leading up to Super Bowl LII. Some fans are also getting their hair dyed green.
Celeste E. Whittaker/Staff Photographer

From left, Vince Papale, actor Mark Wahlberg and former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, pose for photographers during red carpet arrivals at the world premiere of the film "Invincible" in 2006.(Photo: STUART RAMSON, AP)

Papale won’t be bringing the stool to Minneapolis, but he doesn’t feel the Birds need it.

While the Eagles are rallying around the underdog persona that fueled their run to the Super Bowl, the most notable longshot in franchise history – thanks to Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal in the 2006 feature film Invincible – never had a doubt about the group.

“I just have so much confidence in the team and the way they trust each other and how they trust Doug and the coaching staff,” said Papale, a Cherry Hill resident.

Not even Carson Wentz’s torn ACL and LCL against the Los Angeles Rams in December could shake Papale from the bandwagon.

“I never stopped believing because I know that Doug believes in what he’s putting together there, and he believes in Nick Foles,” Papale said. “I’ve seen Nick at his best and I’ve seen him at his worst, and I was just so confident that Nick would pull it off.”

Papale knows all about overcoming the odds.

He was 30 years old when he went to an open tryout for the Eagles in 1976. He never played in college, but a stint in the World Football League led to his opportunity with the Birds.

Papale not only made the team, but was a special teams standout for three seasons.

And he still reacts to every game like he’s wearing the uniform.

“I’ll always bleed green,” Papale said. “I cry after they win just because of the success of the team. It’s really emotional.”

His story even swayed Wahlberg, a noted New England Patriots supporter, who said he wouldn’t be devastated seeing his team lose.

“How excited I am that the Eagles are in the Super Bowl, having played Vince Papale, having played an Eagle, having become an honorary Philadelphian, been welcomed by the Philadelphia fans as one of their own,” Wahlberg recently told the “Not Just Sports” podcast, hosted by Suzy Schuster and Rich Eisen. “I have made five movies in Philadelphia and I predicted the Eagles would make it to the Super Bowl. It is my Patriots and Eagles and I couldn’t be happier. I am very excited. It is win-win.”

There are limits to Wahlberg’s support though.

Papale suggested Wahlberg wear his “83” jersey into the Patriots box in Minneapolis, but was turned down.

The two are on opposite sides of their predictions too. Wahlberg expects the Pats to win by 17. Papale is going 20-17, Birds.

“No matter what the odds are against us, 6.5 (points), who cares,” Papale said. “The Patriots, they’ve already been anointed the Super Bowl champions, they’re the Mount Rushmore of the NFL and it’s the perfect position for us. There’s no question in my mind that I think the team can win it.”